Australian faces Bali court on drug-smuggling charge - World News - World - General - Blacktown Sun: "AUSTRALIAN man allegedly caught trying to smuggle 1.7 kilograms of methamphetamine into Bali sat stony-faced in court yesterday on the first day of his trial.
Michael Sacatides, 43, a kickboxing instructor who has been living in Thailand, is charged with importing and possessing methamphetamine. He faces a maximum sentence of death and a minimum of 15 years in jail if convicted.
Mr Sacatides was arrested in October after customs officials at Denpasar airport found the drug hidden in the lining of his suitcase, the prosecutor, Ketut Sujaya, said.
'He took the suitcase, he put the suitcase through the X-ray machine, he walked to the customs desk, a customs officer asked him to open the suitcase,' Mr Sujaya said.
Mr Sacatides has said he borrowed the suitcase from a friend in Bangkok, Akaleshi Tripathi, and that he knows nothing about the drugs.
'He is a victim of the drug syndicate,' his lawyer, Erwin Siregar, said before the trial.
Mr Siregar, who also represented the Australian drug smuggler Schapelle Corby, said it would be difficult to defend Mr Sacatides from the death penalty if he is found guilty."
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Michael Sacatides, 43, a kickboxing instructor who has been living in Thailand, is charged with importing and possessing methamphetamine. He faces a maximum sentence of death and a minimum of 15 years in jail if convicted.
Mr Sacatides was arrested in October after customs officials at Denpasar airport found the drug hidden in the lining of his suitcase, the prosecutor, Ketut Sujaya, said.
'He took the suitcase, he put the suitcase through the X-ray machine, he walked to the customs desk, a customs officer asked him to open the suitcase,' Mr Sujaya said.
Mr Sacatides has said he borrowed the suitcase from a friend in Bangkok, Akaleshi Tripathi, and that he knows nothing about the drugs.
'He is a victim of the drug syndicate,' his lawyer, Erwin Siregar, said before the trial.
Mr Siregar, who also represented the Australian drug smuggler Schapelle Corby, said it would be difficult to defend Mr Sacatides from the death penalty if he is found guilty."
DISCLAIMER:Text may be subject to copyright.This blog does not claim copyright to any such text. Copyright remains with the original copyright holder.
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